Kyle and her husband moved to Brookfield in 1986. She became active in local politics and started blogging in 2004. Her focus is primarily on local issues but often includes state and national topics, too. Kyle looks at things from the taxpayers' perspective in a creative, yet down to earth way, addressing them from a practical point of view.

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday it
remained open to the idea of a second economic stimulus package but its
willingness to accept a new plan would depend on details put forth by
the Democratic-led Congress.

"We'll remain open to the idea and then we'll just have to see when
Congress gets back, if they decide to move forward, what sort of
package they want to draft into legislation ... and see if it actually
would stimulate the economy," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said
aboard Air Force One with President George W. Bush headed to Louisiana.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Monday
another wave of government spending may be needed to boost the
struggling economy.

Perino said Bush, who so far has resisted Democratic proposals for a
second package, would weigh advice from all of his economic advisers,
noting that "obviously Ben Bernanke is a key one."

Congress, Eyeing Economic Woes, Weighs Another Stimulus Package

Democrats say economic conditions are worst in 50 years, but Republicans accuse them of politicking

On the heels of the financial meltdown
that felled Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch, expect a showdown in
Congress as lawmakers wrestle over the need for a second shot in the
arm for the ailing U.S. economy, one costing as much as $68 billion.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday that Democrats were
assembling an economic stimulus package with money for infrastructure
projects, unemployment insurance, help for low-income people to pay
energy bills, aid to states to tackle Medicare and Medicaid costs, and
possibly job training. Skeptical Republicans quickly labeled it a
politically motivated move that would generate an even larger budget
deficit.

But the Maryland Democrat said the country was facing the worst
economic conditions in at least 50 years. "We believe a stimulus
package is called for," he said. "It will be limited, simple,
straightforward. It will deal with jobs and economic stimulus."

He would like the House to take up the package by early next week.
The clock is running because lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up
legislative business September 26.

Hoyer didn't put a price tag on the measure, which has been under
discussion for several weeks, though other Democrats said Tuesday it
would be in the range of $50 billion.

But a top Republican aide in the Senate said he understood the package could balloon to $68 billion, and characterized it as an election-year
ploy. Democrats have a 51-to-49 majority in the Senate and the
measure's prospects are iffy there because it would need 60 votes to
pass.

Last week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected a near-record deficit of $407 billion for
the year ending September 30 and signaled it could reach a record $438
billion in the year ahead. "Democrats ran to the microphones to scream
about how not paying for things has driven us to the brink," the GOP
aide said. "Here we are a week later, and they want to add $68 billion
dollars to the deficit."

He noted the items on Hoyer's wish list already receive federal
dollars. "There isn't $68 billion in a bank somewhere," he added. "This
is all borrowed money." The aide singled out money for roads, bridges,
and other infrastructure projects as a "payoff" to unions.

On the House side, the Blue Dog Democrats, who are fiscal
conservatives, are eyeing developments amid concern about increasing
the deficit.

The package would come on the heels of a $168 billion economic
stimulus that saw tax rebates returned to many Americans beginning in
April.

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